Thread: Reaming a die

Maybe a dumb question but has anyone tried reaming a sizing die? It should make for matching your cases to your chamber if you use the same reamer

You want the die slightly smaller than the chamber to allow for spring of the brass, but pretty much this is what happens with target barrels that were reamed with a custom neck-turn chamber. They used to use an offcut of barrel to make the sizing die, and just shortened the chamber body a bit more.

Yep.

FLSing die reamed with my 6.5ai reamer using a die blank from Troy Newlon USA. Not really a machining issue as the blank was supplied in a machinable metal. Finishing reamer does not quite give the necessary "squeeze" so die was then coated using electroless nickel process.

Redding Comp dies in 6.5x55SM sleaves converted to 6.5ai. These were a little harder to machine/ream.

Wilson inline seater die blank reamed to 308W at the same time barrel fitted and chambered in 308W. Die blank supplied in a machinable grade of steel.

Existing sizing dies may be a bit more difficult due to their hardness. Have no experience of this. If asking a gunsmith to use his nice reamer he may be reluctant.

However, I'm not sure how successful your die will be. Unless its at minimum SAAMI (most are) and your chamber is larger there may be no material to remove or you could end up with a bitzer. My expeience is all with blanks centre bored ready to machine.

@zimmer: saw your comment: 'so die was then coated using electroless nickel process.' Who did the plating and what did it cost? Any prep required before dropping the die off to platers. What did you specify for the plating? Any more hints about this process - it sounds really effective?
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Im also interested in the nickel plating. Was the plating hard enough to not gall on the brass cases?